1842

1842: The Half Sister

2 February

Admiral Wulff dies in a carriage on the way home from the theatre. HCA writes a commemorative poem for Wulff, which is included by his son, Christian, in an edition of the father's Poetic Works (Poetiske Arbejder), published after his death 1844.

8 February

Receivers a letter from his half-sister, Karen. Sends her a letter on the 11th and receives a visit on the 12th from Kaufman, the man she with whom she lives. Gives him 4 rdl.

29th march

Sees (this is not quite clear in the diary) the premiere of Bournonville's ballet Napoli and visits Bournonville at home afterwards. Writes a poem to Bournonville on the following day and has it printed in the newspaper "Fædrelandet" (The Fatherland). Sees Napoli (again?).

31 March

Receives a thank you poem from Bournonville . He and HCA agree to address each other informally and have a toast to celebrate this decision. On the same day, HCA spends time with Clara Wieck, the pianist, who asks HCA on behalf of her husband (Robert Schumann) whether he may dedicate his compositions to HCA's poems.

1 April

Hears Clara Wieck Schumann play privately as well as on 3rd April at a public concert (for which HCA had received a ticket from her). Accompanies her to Hartmann's (7th April), to her 2nd concert (10th April) and to her concert at Hotel d'Angleterre (14th April).

7th -23rd April

Sits for the painter J.V. Gertner. Presumably it is this drawing which is used for Gertner's coronation painting from 1846, which once again includes HCA. Gertner had the painting exhibited in the same year, along with the other preliminary studies (i.e. the portrait) for the coronation painting. He also wished to make an engraving of it, but HCA was furious about the painting. He felt it made him look like the inmate of a madhouse (letter to Carl B.Lorck 24th July 1846). Before his journey in Europe - i.e. either in December 42 or in January 43 - HCA demanded that the painting be retouched before any engraving was made:

"I then had him erase the humpy shoulders and remove some of the grinning expressions" (the letter to Lorck).

1842: En Digters Bazar (A Poet's Bazaar)

24 April

Meets with the politician Orla Lehmann, who had been released from prison.

30 April

Publication of A Poet's Bazaar, the book describing HCA's great journey through Europe to the Orient. This is HCA's first travel book, in every respect a work intended to measure up to European standards. A brilliant journalistic portrayal of culture, technology (the railway journey) and folk life.

30 June

Summer journey to estates on Sealand and Funen. Stays at Gisselfeldt, Bregentved, then returns to Gisselfeldt, where HCA is introduced to the ducal family of Augustenburg (Christian August and Louise Amalie, she being née Danneskiold-Samsøe from Gisselfeldt, with daugthers Louise Augusta and Caroline Amalie). The ducal couple invite him to visit them at Augustenborg. Outings to Jomfruens Egede, Turebyholm, Holmegaard's Glassworks, Vemmetofte and Vallø. Regarding the first stay at Gisselfeldt, HCA tells Edvard Collin in a letter dated 2nd July:

"I have been given a nice, sunny room on the ground floor with a beautiful view, service fit for a king. In the evenings, when the butler [...] has lit my room he even says "most humbly good night".

Receives a letter at Gisselfeldt Estate (12th July) containing a ring from the king. It is a diamond ring with a ruby in the middle, surrounded by small diamonds. During the days spent at Bregentved Estate, he feels as though he is enclosed within the fairy world of The Blue Grotto, where criticism from the outside world can touch him only lightly. Is otherwise afflicted at this time both with toothache and with sexual worries. Concerning the latter, he writes on 11th July in his diary:

"in a sensuous mood, a passion in the blood which is almost animal-like, a mad yearning for a woman to kiss and hold, just as I felt down south".

The summer journey contninues to Glorup Estate on Funen and from here a visit to Rygaard, the neighbouring farm. Also outings to Lykkesholm, Egeskov, Hesselagergård and Broholm Estates.

4 July

Summer première at the theatre of HCA's. Fuglen i Pæretræet, dramatisk Spøg i I Akt med Chor og Sange (The Pear Tree Bird, Dramatic Jest in I Act with Choir and Songs) (the play is based on a story by Rosa Maria, music by Edv. Helsted). 6 performances during HCA's life. Is first printed in its entirety in Collected Works vol.11. (Samlede Skrifter bd. 11.)

23 August

Day trip to Odense from Glorup Estate.

25th - 29th August

At Sorø with the Ingemanns.

29 August

Travels with the Hauchs to Roskilde, where he visits Weyse (who dies 8th October). From here, on to Copenhagen.

30 September

Receives a visit from Karen, his half-sister. Gives her 1 rdl.

1842: Getting to Know P.L.Møller

Autumn 1842

8 October

The composer C.E.F. Weyse died. This occasioned the following comment from Hans Christian Andersen in The Story of My Life, where he called him "my first noble protector; we met often at Wulffs in those early times, collaborated on Kenilworth, but nevertheless did not become close friends; his life was lonely like mine, and yet people liked to see him, as I believe many do me; but I have the nature of migratory birds and fly out over Europe, his longest excursion was to Roskilde, where in a certain family circle he felt at home, where he had the organ of the Cathedral to improvise on, at Roskilde is still his grave. He would not entertain the idea of going any further, I remember his humour, when after my return from Greece and Constantinople I called on him. 'Look, now you are no further than I!' he said. 'You have arrived in Kronprindsessegade and are looking at Kongenshave, so do I, and you have thrown away all that money. If you want to travel, travel to Roskilde, wait till there are trips to moons and planets!"

25 October

Earliest mention in an almanac of getting acquainted with the critic P.L.Møller (although they must have known each other some time before this). At this time, P.L. Møller is one of the most progressive critics of Danish literature, an opponent of Heiberg, a secret employee at Goldsmidt's publication Corsaren and a good moral support for HCA and Blicher, who were outsiders on the literary scene.

22 December

Christmas journey to Bregentved Estate. In a letter written here to Edvard Collin on Christmas Day, he tallies up his finances, including what he is able to procure by pawning his ring (180 rdl.) as well as an expected payment of 200 rdl. from Reitzel (presumably additional payment for En Digters Bazar (A Poets Bazaar).